Premier Smith 'wishy washy' on final cost of ports project
The Premier was on Tuesday May 3, 2016 asked the question on whether the project was still doing completion works and whether the figure given some months ago of $82.9 million was the final figure on the controversial project.
“That is a very difficult matter to answer...I will have to refer that to the Minister for Communications and Works who has total oversight, because the decision has to be made on what next needs to be done or what will not be done...so those decisions will be made by the Ports [Authority] and the Ministry of Communications and Works,” he said.
When pressed as to whether the final figure will be more than the stated $82.9 million, he said that he could not really give a figure nor would he attempt to do so.
“I really cannot make a statement on what it would take to completely wind it up,” he said, referring to the ongoing works at the Tortola Pier Park.
While much of the infrastructure works seem to have been finished, there is a large development still left and it seems to have been stagnant for months. This is the area designated for the international restaurant on the site. Since piles were driven late last year there seems to be nothing else happening there. It is suspected that the Ports Authority is awaiting bids to come in so that the facility can be completed to specifications.
The Minister revealed the cost of the project while giving a ‘Statement by Minister’ on January 25, 2016 during the Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly.
He said the total cost of the marine side of the project came up to $36.8 million. He called this phase of the project a major boost to the economy of the Virgin Islands because of the number of vendors and service providers who supplied the project.
In addition, the Minister said the landside development and all its related spending came up to a total of $37 million. He said with the addition of soft and administrative costs the total for the entire project came up to $82.9 million.
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